The Finnish team for the World Championships in Athletics has been announced – no less than 32 athletes will go to Eugene

Finland is going to the World Championships in athletics with a team of no less than 32 athletes. The majority of the team was confirmed through the International Association of Athletics Federations ranking. The World Championships will be held from 15 to 24. July in Eugene, USA.

The team includes ten more athletes than Finland represented at the previous World Championships in Doha, Qatar three years ago.

Coaching manager of the sports association Tuomo Salonen considers the number of athletes a positive surprise. The minimum goal was 20 athletes.

– We had good performances from athletes in the ranking system. We were able to play that system right. The successes of the last few weeks contributed to that. We got a lot of athletes to participate in the World Championships, Salonen told Urheilu.

According to Salonen, Finland’s international level is broad.

– It has been seen before at the European Championship level. Now it can also be seen at the World Cup level. We have a lot of athletes in different sports groups who had a chance. Now there were successes on a wide front.

According to Salonen, Finns knew how to use the ranking system to their advantage.

– The system requires an understanding of how to interpret it and how to enter competitions. It sure helps. In Finland, what it requires is well internalized. Gotta compete more. A single result does not decide.

The size of the team could have been bigger, because the triple jumper Simo Lipsanenan endurance runner Sara Kuivistoaturi Nooralotta Neziri and multitaskers Mary Huntington and Saga Vanninen decided, for various reasons, not to compete in the World Championships, even if they had been offered a place in the World Championships.

Salonen says that the Finnish team will move to Creswell, Oregon starting next Tuesday for a preparation period of about ten days.

– We are there for about a week, depending on the athlete. A few days before our own performance, we move to Eugene’s competition village. This way you get used to the time difference and the conditions.

The events of the World Athletics Championships can be followed live on TV2 and Areena.

Tuomas Seppänen
Aaron Kangas

Oliver Helander
Lassi Etelätalo
Toni Keränen
Toni Kuusela (substitute)

Viivi Lehikoinen
Kristiina Halonen

Ella Junnila
Heta Tuuri
Sini Lälä

Senni Salminen
Kristiina Mäkelä

Krista Tervo
Silja Kosonen

Tiia Kuikka
Elisa Neuvonen

Updated at 11:40: Added Tuomo Salonen’s comments.